Opposition Watch: City vs Newcastle

Melbourne City continues preparations for next week’s FFA Cup Quarter Final with a friendly against Newcastle Jets in Ballarat. We take a look at our opponents ahead of Sunday’s clash at Morshead Park.

The Lowdown

After returning from a gruelling pre-season camp in Townsville, City will face another stern A-League test against a Newcastle side brimming with confidence from a series of impressive pre-season results.

The Jets returned from their pre-season tour of China with a perfect record after consecutive wins over Liaoning Whowin, Eastern SC and Kitchee SC, emerging victorious by a solitary goal on each occasion.

A comfortable 4-0 win over Northern NSW NPL side Edgeworth Eagles served as the perfect tonic to a week overshadowed by off-field drama, with the Jets attack clicking once again to take the club’s goal-scoring tally to 13 from the last four pre-season matches.

Danish striker Morten Nordstrand is showing good signs early with strikes against Edgeworth and Kitchee, while new signing Andrew Hoole has run riot in attack with five goals since re-joining Newcastle from Sydney FC.

Form Guide

Newcastle Jets 4-0 Edgeworth Eagles

Goal scorers: (Hoole 29’ (pen), 71’, Clut 42’, Nordstrand 58’)

Newcastle Jets 4-3 Kitchee SC

Goal scorers: Hoole 14’, Nordstrand 52’, Nabbout 56’, Hoffman 90+1

Newcastle Jets 2-1 Eastern SC

Goal scorers: Brymora 40’, Nabbout 86’

Newcastle Jets 3-2 Liaoning Whowin FC

Goal scorers: Devante Clut 47’, Andrew Hoole 66’ (pen), 88’)

Players to Watch

Morten Nordstrand - The Danish striker is once again looming as the focal point of the Jets attack, netting in his last two pre-season fixtures against Kitchee SC and Edgeworth Eagles. Nordstrand will be aiming to build upon an impressive start to life in the A-League, with four goals from 11 appearances last season.

Andrew Hoole – After returning to his hometown club from Sydney FC, the 22-year-old has been the standout of the Jets’ pre-season with a series of impressive displays. The Olyroos winger has netted five goals in his last four matches, and will look to reach the level of form which saw him crowned Newcastle’s Player of the Season in 2015.

Devante Clut – Considered to be a rising star of the competition, Clut has made a solid start to life in Newcastle with two goals in pre-season after joining from Brisbane Roar. A creative midfielder with a penchant for scoring spectacular goals, the 20-year-old will hope to cement his place in the Jets first team with another impressive display against City.

How to follow the match

John van’t Schip’s side will face the Jets at Morshead Park – home of NPL Victoria club Ballarat Red Devils – on Sunday 18 September. You can follow the match on twitter @melbournecity, using the hashtag #MCYvNEW

The match will kick-off at 3pm, but head down to the venue earlier to enjoy a range of pre-match activities.